Edwin is focusing on an honest and trustworthy business with his venture, Herbabytes – repairing, buying and selling electronics.

What’s your story?
After getting my Bachelors in Accounting and Finance from the Australian National University, I took the CPA and completed a Masters in Applied Finance. I was well on the road to becoming a professional accountant, just like my older brother.
However, I’ve always had a passion for technology and electronics and I was one of those guys who would save all their money to buy the latest gadgets. It was 5 years into my career when I acknowledged that accountancy really was not my calling and that I’d never be truly happy. My girlfriend at the time (now my wife) ran her own businesses and I could see that her job was a lot more fulfilling than mine.
I started dabbling part time in the buying and selling of electronics and knew there was a strong market in Singapore. Soon after, I quit my job and launched Herabytes, together with my wife and some other partners. Since the electronics industry has a bad reputation for scams and being dishonest, I knew it was important to build our own internal team and controls and to focus on service and only partner with trustworthy vendors.

What excites you most about your industry?
I still feel a sense of wonder when something new and awesome is released. I love that huge companies like Apple and Samsung are racing against each other to produce better technology and bring them to the masses. For example, 5 years ago, technology like Virtual Reality and 3D screens on a mass-market level would have been unheard of.
Besides technology itself, the people in this industry are even more fascinating. Everyday, I conduct business with people ranging from CEOs and IT Directors, to surly ex-convicts who replace screens at lightning speed.

What’s your connection to Asia?
I was born and bred in Singapore. Even when I studied overseas, I always felt a connection to home and my family and I knew this is where I needed to be.

Herabytes_Main XIUFENSILVER-548-2862

Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Singapore. I believe in being smart and strategic in business and ultimately, Singapore is the market which I understand and operate best in. We have been able to synergise with other small businesses, which gave all of us a good head start.
Singapore is also very  supportive towards small businesses and entrepreneurship and there are some opportune markets surrounding us. Singapore is a great HQ to conduct business regionally.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Your wife is your greatest ally. Don’t piss her off.

Who inspires you?
I have a number of mentors who inspire me, my father would have had the biggest impact. He has always encouraged me in every decision and I can always go to him for honest, practical advice.

What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
I’m going to be a father soon!

If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I would have started doing this much sooner.

How do you unwind?
I golf regularly, enjoy home cooked meals and watch a couple of TV shows in the evenings. I spend time with my parents over the weekend where we go to church, then eat at our favourite Indian restaurant.

Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Jakarta. Flights are reasonable, street food is good and cheap and I have some good friends there. I’m very much a city person and it’s a great, affordable get away.

Everyone in business should read this book:
Blue ocean strategy. It opened my mind to opportunities that I may have otherwise missed. It shows how you can be creative and stand out within your current industry or market.

Shameless plug for your business:
Herabytes solves all your device and gadget issues. We are a one stop IT hardware partner, and we have our own team of skilled repair technicians.
We help companies and end users to:
– repair phones, tablets and laptops
– procure new devices and accessories
– procure second hand phones, tablets and laptops

How can people connect with you?
Email me at [email protected], or like Herabytes on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/herabytes

This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:

CallumConnectsCallum Laing invests and buys small businesses in a range of industries around Asia.  He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is the founder & owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 12 countries.  He is a Director of, amongst others, Key Person of Influence.  A 40 week training program for business owners and executives.

Take the ‘Key Person of Influence’ scorecard <http://www.keypersonofinfluence.com/scorecard/>

Connect with Callum here:
twitter.com/laingcallum
linkedin.com/in/callumlaing
Get his free ‘Asia Snapshot’ report from www.callumlaing.com

Recently Published

Key Takeaway: Antarctica’s tiny invertebrates, such as mites, springtails, and tardigrades, have developed strategies to survive extreme cold conditions. These adaptations, known as freeze tolerance and avoidance, allow them to survive below zero temperatures without damage. These survival mechanisms could inform future innovations in areas such as organ preservation and materials engineering. Understanding how these […]

Top Picks

Key Takeaway: AI-powered mental health tools, such as chatbots and self-help apps, offer immediate emotional support to those in need. However, these tools cannot replace the complexity, depth, and ethical safeguards of human therapy, especially when dealing with serious mental health issues. AI lacks emotional understanding, cultural context, and real-time adaptability, which can be dangerous […]
Key Takeaway: The discovery of asteroid 2024 YR4 has reignited fears about cosmic threats, highlighting the need for a global planetary defense system. Political scientist Daniel Deudney warns that unchecked expansion into space, especially with geopolitical rivalries, could be a recipe for global disaster. The fear of space, its vastness, and existential indifference is deeply […]
Key Takeaway: John Harvey Kellogg, a controversial doctor, played a significant role in the development of the plant-based movement. He combined the Progressive Era with “biologic living” and established an experimental kitchen to develop alternatives to meat. In 1896, the U.S. Department of Agriculture asked Kellogg to create a plant-based protein that could rival meat […]
Key Takeaway: Research shows that some animals form surprising partnerships, challenging traditional views on how intelligence evolves in the animal kingdom. For example, Octavia and Finn, a day octopus and coral trout, work as a team, each bringing unique skills to the hunt. Other species have also developed remarkable partnerships, such as the greater honeyguide […]

Trending

I highly recommend reading the McKinsey Global Institute’s new report, “Reskilling China: Transforming The World’s Largest Workforce Into Lifelong Learners”, which focuses on the country’s biggest employment challenge, re-training its workforce and the adoption of practices such as lifelong learning to address the growing digital transformation of its productive fabric. How to transform the country […]

Join our Newsletter

Get our monthly recap with the latest news, articles and resources.

Login

Welcome to Empirics

We are glad you have decided to join our mission of gathering the collective knowledge of Asia!
Join Empirics